Torah Portion - December 13, 2007

Vayigash, Genesis 44:18–47:27

Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph. Is my father still well?" But his brothers could not answer him, so dumfounded were they on account of him. Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come forward to me." And when they came forward, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, he whom you sold into Egypt." (Genesis 45:3–4)

 

Have you ever found yourself ruminating over a mistake you made in the past, wishing for an opportunity to truly be able to make things right again? You know that there is absolutely no chance that you will ever again see the person you’ve wronged; the time for rapprochement is long past.

Then, as if by miracle, you find that person, and s/he is indeed willing  to forgive you; to move on; to re-establish a relationship that you were afraid you had killed.

 

That is precisely what happens to Joseph brothers in Vayigash.  Joseph’s brothers have gone down to Egypt in search of food because a famine has ravaged their home of Canaan. They have an audience with the Pharaoh’s second in command, and suddenly this powerful man reveals himself to his brothers. It is the very Joseph that they almost murdered years ago, who was instead sold into slavery in Egypt. Joseph asks them to bring their father down to Egypt. The family is reunited.

When Joseph first reveals himself to his brothers, they cannot respond.  Overwrought with emotion, the brothers stand there and stare until Joseph once again tells them,  "I am your brother Joseph. . . " (Genesis 45:4).

 

Vayigash is written like an ancient movie. The narrative allows us to watch Joseph reveals himself to his brothers; we know that this rich, powerful Egyptian is Joseph, but his brothers are absolutely flabbergasted by this news.  When Joseph reveals his true identity, the words "your brother" are emphasized, underscoring the family bond that connects them despite the tragic way that their own behavior allowed them to be torn from one another. That bond is what made it possible for Joseph to be honest with his brothers, despite the resentment and anger he felt. It was the love and care and sense of connection that made it possible for Joseph to reach out; for the family to begin the process of teshuvah-- of repentance, forgiveness, and return to being an intact family. 

After all those years, Joseph found himself in a position of great power over the very brothers who had treated him with such violence and indignity. It is likely that thoughts and feelings of vengeance raged through him as he stared at his brothers. And yet, Joseph focused on the eternal human bond between them, not on the rightful anger over their immature actions. Joseph declared, “I am your brother.” Perhaps that is why he is known as Joseph the Righteous.